The Cartographers’ Guild is a forum created by and for map makers and aficionados, a place where every aspect of cartography can be admired, examined, learned, and discussed. Our membership consists of professional designers and artists, hobbyists, and amateurs—all are welcome to join and participate in the quest for cartographic skill and knowledge.

Although we specialize in maps of fictional realms, as commonly used in both novels and games (both tabletop and role-playing), many Guild members are also proficient in historical and contemporary maps. Likewise, we specialize in computer-assisted cartography (such as with GIMP, Adobe apps, Campaign Cartographer, Dundjinni, etc.), although many members here also have interest in maps drafted by hand.

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ. You will have to register before you can post or view full size images in the forums.

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Fractal Mapper 8 (FM8) Tutorial

Here's a 222-page PDF raster mapping tutorial for Fractal Mapper 8 (TM), aka FM8, from NBOS Software. The book covers just about every facet of raster mapping with FM8, including how to make one's own symbols (objects) with FM8, how to make irregularly shaped PNG symbols with transparent backgrounds, how to use the multi-zoom feature of FM8 that lets one change resolutions at differrent zoom levels, etc. etc. The tutorial is free, open and released under the Open Game License 1.0a. It's a 43 MB download. You can get it here: